‘Bistek’ draws flak over kissing antics on campaign stage
Herbert “Bistek” Bautista. (File photo NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — “Kadiri” (disgusting) and other expressions of revulsion were among the reactions elicited by senatorial bet Herbert Bautista, who was recently recorded on video as he hugged and kissed a female supporter on the campaign stage.
Bautista, a former actor known as “Bistek” in his comedy films and a three-term mayor of Quezon City, was entertaining the crowd in Ormoc City on April 9 when he called a 23-year-old woman to come up and join him. He was then sharing the stage with Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez (also a former actor) and reelectionist Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
A four-minute video of the scene, which has since trended on social media, first showed Bautista singing to her and then kneeling down to hug her in the waist.
Who should be first?
After his song, Bautista interviewed the woman and asked: “Can I kiss you?”
The crowd laughed and cheered as he feigned a first attempt, deliberately missing her and instead falling on Gatchalian who was seated behind them.
Article continues after this advertisementHe then turned to Gomez and said in Filipino: “Mayor, I’ll give this one a peck (tutukain ko na ito) … or should you be the first one doing it?”
Article continues after this advertisementThe woman responded, giggling: “Ikaw na lang (You do it).”
Bautista turned to the audience and explained: “Ah, to those taking videos, I mean no malice with my kiss, but some sectors might say we are being disrespectul to the woman. That’s not the case. Just asking permission.”
She answered “OK,” then Bautista asked one more time: “Can I kiss you?” — then took a quick lunge at her and kissed her.
One of the online comments on the video called the former Quezon City Mayor “Pervert Bautista,” while another remarked that celebrity Kris Aquino, with whom the politician had been romantically linked, was “right” in ending their relationship.
‘Distasteful’
House Assistant Minority leader and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas called Bautista’s stage antics “distasteful,” saying campaign rallies that “objectify, harass, demean and degrade women” should be called out and penalized.
“This is not about the female supporter agreeing to be kissed. This is about Bautista using the female supporter for his macho power play in a vain attempt to boost the Uniteam campaign rally. Cheap degrading theatrics can’t make up for the lack of meaningful platforms for the people,” Brosas said in a statement on Friday.
She added: “We’ve always said that women should not be a tool to entertain people during electoral campaigns. Such acts degrade and insult the capacities of Filipino women and normalize sexual harassment guised as crowd’s merriment.”
Ironically, it was during Bautista’s term as mayor, in 2015, that Quezon City figured prominently in the campaign against sexual harassment and violence against women under the Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Initiative.
The following year, the city council amended its Gender and Development Code by raising the fines on sexual harassment, particularly if committed in public places, including public transportation.
The Inquirer contacted the Bautista campaign team for comment, but he had yet to respond as of press time.
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